Underground conduit



(No Model.)

J. E. EDWARDS. UNDERGROUND GONDUIT.

` Patented Oct. 16. 1894.

m36/ Edy/Ma j l. -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH n. EDWARDS, .OF TORONTO, OHIO.`

.UNDERGROUND ooNDul-r.

' 'SPECIFICATION forming of Letters Patent N0. 527,59**7, dated October 16, 1894.4 Application filed Juno 7, 1894. Serial No. 518,822. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern: y

Beit known that I, JOSEPH E. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at `To ronto, in the cou-nt y of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underground. Conduits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled'in the art to which it appertains to make and `use the same. I

This invention relates to an underground \conduit, and sewer for electric light, tlephone, and other wires, and has for its object to provide a simple and convenient form of conduit which may readily be Opened for the purpose ot'` manipulating the wires or for making suitable connections.

With these and other Objects in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more lfully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure lisa sectional perspective view of a conduit embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the lower section of the conduit. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the upper'section of the conduit. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line Fig. 1.

v Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts'in the several views. f A A Referring t0 the drawings, the numeral l designates the bottom of the conduit, which is vof semi-circular form having the opposite edges thereof shouldered as at 2.

The numeral 3 represents the top otv the conl duit which is of similar form to the bottom 1 arrange the wires and both top'and bottom y and has Opposite rims 4 with interior shoulders 5 to engage the shoulders 2 of the bottom section. When the sections 1 and 3 are unitedthey form a cylindrical casing and may be of .any suitable length, having at one .end an extended flange v5 to receive the reduced end of an adjacent section after the manner of an ordinary sewer pipe, the rims. falling a little short of the reduced end of each top section to permit the said fitting of one section entire into theother. By the arrangement of parts set forth thetop section may be readily removed to manipulate or otherwise ing rack 8 havin purpose of making connections with houses or other places as lmay be found desirable and necessary.

The lower section 1 of the casing is provided with interior longitudinally extending ribs 7 over which are removably slid the opposite upper edges of a concavo-convex wire supportsections are provided with Openings 6 for the i v5o longitudinally extending v upwardly project ng flanges or partitions 9, v

' the center one of which is perpendicular while the two on opposite sides of said center 'slightly diverge outwardly or are arranged oblique. It will be seen that'tliis arrangement of partition provides a series of four gutters or chambers in the said lower rack for the reception of a similar number ofwires, or more or less as may be desired. At or about the center of the flanges and opposite outer portions of the lower rack a series of openings 9 is provided for the purpose of making connections with the wires in the gutters or cham bers. By the formation of the ribs in the `lower section 1 of the conduit the said lower rack isheld in properly adj usted position,"and retained in said position. In the lower section or rack it will be observed that the concaved side is uppermost and mounted above the said lower rack is an upper concavo-convexrack 10 having its convex surface upper- .most and from which project upwardly a series of three flanges orpartitions 11 similar to those formed in the lower rack and providing as many guttersor chambers als 'in the said lower rack. The upper-rack is'placed loosely over the lower rack and has its edges resting aga-inst the upper portions of the longitudinally disposed ribs in the lower conduit sectinll l. g

It will lie-understood that when several of the conduit sections and rack sections are placed end for end a continuous formation in each instance will be provided and it will also be understood that theracks may have the` number of flanges increasedor decreased in order to increase or decrease the number of gutters or chambers. The upper rack 10 has the anges thereof, as well as the body of the same provided with'a series of openings 12 for the purpose of making connections with the several wires.' v

' The conduit herein described is lasting and ICO serviceable and can be used as a combined sewer\and,conduit towhich access can be easily had in order to arrange the wires for the purpose of connection or to otherwise manipulate said wires and rectify breaks or other irregularities. This operation is performed by simply removing the top section of the conduitand the several sections of the conduit can be made full length and continuous or of diierent lengths with intervening spaces.

It is preferable that all the parts be constructed of vitritied reclay. The advantage of the' construction is the facility'and dispatch by which ywires may be laid and a comparative reduction of .cost as well as the easy access to the wires attainable through Iche removability of .the several sec tions.

Having thus described the invention, what' 1. In a conduit of the character set forth, the combination with the outer pipe sections, of inner superposed wire supporting racks having upwardly projecting lianges, the said racks and pipe sections being provided with said ribs and flanges projecting from the up per side thereof, said rack being'of concave` convexform and having its concave side uppermost, and an upper concavo-convex rack with its convex side uppermost, anges or partito'ns projecting upward from said convex side, all of the said parts having suitable openings for the purpose of making the connections, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed thisl specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: WM. C. LYNCH, JOHN A. BURCHFIELD.

JOSEPH E. EDWARDS. 

